Extreme environment case study: Machu Picchu

Question 1

Where is Machu Picchu located?

Answer 1

Machu Picchu is located in the middle of Peru which is to the west of South America. As well as this, Machu Picchu is in the Andes Mountain range and is near the town of Cuzco.

Question 2

What are 3 facts about Machu Picchu?

Answer 2

• it is 2240m above sea level and is surrounded by steep mountains which are covered in plants and trees
• the rainy season lasts from December to March and the sunny season is from April to December
• it will only get as cold as 0 degrees Celsius and as warm as 18 degrees Celcius

Question 3

What are 4 of the attractions in Machu Picchu?

Answer 3

• Machu Picchu’s culture (built by the Inca people between 1400 AD and 1500 AD and after 100 years it was abandoned
• tourists might want to compare lives now to lives in the past
• it is located in the Andes mountains so tourists might want a mountain holiday
• located close to salt lakes

Question 4

What is an economic advantage of tourism in Machu Picchu?

Answer 4

• the money that is generated through tourists by food, drink and other things.

Question 5

What is a social advantage of tourism in Machu Picchu?

Answer 5

• it encourages the learning of new languages and skills for both the locals and the tourists.

Question 6

What is an environmental advantage of tourism in Machu Picchu?

Answer 6

• environmentalists will work hard to look after, protect and preserve the environment in Machu Picchu.

Question 7

What is a social disadvantage of tourism in Machu Picchu?

Answer 7

• the crowding and conjestion on the roads, footpaths and in the narrow streets.

Question 8

What is an environmental disadvantage of tourism in Machu Picchu?

Answer 8

• helicopters that have been allowed to fly in tourists and operate low disturbs the peaceful environment by creating noise pollution and it also creates air pollution.

Question 9

What is an economic disadvantage of tourism in Machu Picchu?

Answer 9

• jobs provided for the locals are usually poorly paid.

Question 10

What are the 3 strategies being used to protect and preserve Machu Picchu?

Answer 10

• the Government have put in strict guidelines - example: no food in the old buildings
• number of tourists as been reduced to 800 per day
• there has been a ban helicopter flights over the ruins

Question 11

Do I think that the strategies will work?

Answer 11

In my opinion, I think that these strategies will work to help protect Machu Picchu especially the strategy about banning helicopter flights because not only will it stop damaging the ruins but also the pollution polluting the environment too.